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Original poster

Not wanting to be around people drinking

77 replies

Newearringsplease · 21/09/2019 15:27

DD is 15 and is going to our local city tomorrow to do some shopping with her friends. They had planned on going to the Botanist for a mocktail but her friends mum doesn't want her to be around people who are drinking! Surely it's a restaurant/cocktail bar not some grotty pub !

OP posts:
Ringdonna · 21/09/2019 16:58

Too young to be in A bar

SnorkMaiden81 · 21/09/2019 17:00

She's a child. Not Carrie Bradshaw.

If I were the manager of The Botanist I'd be looking after my venue's reputation and asking them to leave.

It isn't nappy night.

JumpyLiz · 21/09/2019 17:01

I can't imagine the establishment would allow a group of underage kids in unless accompanied by an adult, even to drink soft drinks

Tippety · 21/09/2019 17:02

They are very geared to cocktails though, it's not a restaurant which happens to sell drinks; it's a cocktail bar that sells a bit of food. Do they want to go to take photos for Instagram or something?

ExhaustedGrinch · 21/09/2019 17:03

I wouldn't want my child playing grown up in a drinking establishment either. Nor would I want to be encouraging the idea that drinking 'posh' drinks in a 'posh' bar is any different from any other kind of drinking.

CassianAndor · 21/09/2019 17:05

Indeed you do, OP, but they’re likely to be more concentrated in a bar.

Your still not answering my question. Are these girls equipped to deal with drunk adult men bothering them?

And I must say, if I was going for an afternoon drink in a cocktail bar I wouldn’t want there to be a bunch of underage teenage kids there.

PuffHuffle5 · 21/09/2019 17:05

Nor would I want to be encouraging the idea that drinking 'posh' drinks in a 'posh' bar is any different from any other kind of drinking.

But it is... enjoying a cocktail in a bar is hardly the same as downing cheap cider on the street or WKD or double vodka red bull in a dingy club Confused

SnorkMaiden81 · 21/09/2019 17:06

In fact, I didn't even think you were allowed in licences premises legally under the age of 16 if not accompanied by an adult.

Cohle · 21/09/2019 17:07

Have you been to the Botanist lately OP, or had a glance at their website? It's a bar. And I'd be worried about why my 15yo was so keen to emulate drinking.

Original poster
Newearringsplease · 21/09/2019 17:11

Drunk adult men bother girls everywhere CassianAndor DD and her older sister went for a walk with the dog a few nights ago ,dressed in jeans and sweatshirts and men were slowing down their cars shouting at them. So they can't sit on the balcony of a nice restaurant at lunch time and have a fancy pop?

OP posts:
TrendyNorthLondonTeen · 21/09/2019 17:14

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Original poster
Newearringsplease · 21/09/2019 17:16

You are joking!

OP posts:
SweetNorthernRose · 21/09/2019 17:19

Botanist is a casual dining restaurant and bar. 50/50 on food and drinks I'd say. I'm assuming they will be going for this drink mid afternoon and not 9 or 10pm, in which case the vibe will very much be people catching a late lunch or a quick drink before hone after shopping. Nothing sinister!
My parents were always pretty laid back when I was that age (in the mid 90s) but I had one friend whose parents were really strict about her going out anywhere. Needless to say, she was the crazy rebellious one getting into bother and I was the sensible one...

Celebelly · 21/09/2019 17:20

I don't really get the problem here? At 15, plenty of people's kids are getting pissed at house parties and up to god knows what. A group of girls wanting to go for a mocktail after a shopping trip in the middle of the day doesn't seem like a big deal to me...

SweetNorthernRose · 21/09/2019 17:20

*heading home

Passthecherrycoke · 21/09/2019 17:21

This thread is utterly bizarre. I do agree with the who said more fool her for telling her mum before just doing it, but it’s a juice in a bar. Would it matter if they’d gone in for tea/ coffee? Afternoon tea? There is no way they’re going to get served alcohol unless possibly they have fake ID, in which case the whole thing is moot as they could go on the piss anywhere.

I would’ve absolutely loved the idea of going somewhere cool at that age. Imagine going for a mocktail as an event. I admire them.

Although I’m not clear if we’re talking about the botonist on sloane sq which is the only one I know

Celebelly · 21/09/2019 17:22

Would it be different if they wanted to grab a Coke at a Weatherspoons? What's the difference? You're just as likely to run into drunk people in the middle of the day (dare I say, probably even more likely, given my experience of Weatherspoons). The drinks are just cheaper.

Original poster
Newearringsplease · 21/09/2019 17:28

Passthecherrycoke there are botanists everywhere, near me it's new and like a two story greenhouse with streams and plants

OP posts:
nettie434 · 21/09/2019 17:32

I've been to The Botanist in Sloane Square three times. It's lovely but expensive and I don't remember mocktails featuring much on the menu. We had our special middle aged invisibility cloaks on but I am not sure a group of young women would have the same reaction.

There are some places specialising in mocktails. We were going to try The Greaft Chase when we went to Sadlers Wells with a friend a couple of weeks ago but went somewhere else in the end. May not be anywhere near they want to go but I am sure there are other places.

www.thegreatchase.co.uk

nettie434 · 21/09/2019 17:34

Apologies for podgy finger phone typing - meant to put get the same reaction and Great Blush

ZenNudist · 21/09/2019 17:46

What's this girl's financial situation? The botanist is very expensive. Even more so than a fruit frappacino in costa. I think it is OTT and unnecessary.

If I were sat in the botanist having an afternoon cocktail and a group of 15yo came in Id be pretty unimpressed.

I wouldn't go as there are better places to drink and I dont rate them, like the alchemist, chainy and cant mix a decent drink.

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 21/09/2019 17:47

If it’s the new one in Bath there’s all of 5 mocktails on the menu ;)

DecomposingComposers · 21/09/2019 17:52

If it’s the new one in Bath there’s all of 5 mocktails on the menu ;)

I just looked at the Liverpool Street station menu. There's only 2 non alcoholic cocktails available there and 1 of those is an Earl Grey tea concoction - not sure it'll be a hit with 15 year olds to be honest.

It says the motto is ",work hard, play harder" sounds an entirely appropriate place for a group of 15 year olds to be Hmm

TrendyNorthLondonTeen · 21/09/2019 18:00

Ok since I've apparently been reported for troll hunting, I'll bite.

I had very permissive parents. I started drinking at 15, and not by downing bottles of Pulse in the park, but with friends in each others bedrooms with alcohol bought for me. I was going out to pubs regularly from 16/17, so I'm not in a position to judge about teen drinking.

But this is a bit weird to me. Why do they feel the need to go to an adult oriented place to have a soft drink? (Assuming they'll even get in/ served.) I know I was a teenager almost 20 years ago, but no one did this kind of thing without making themselves look yeard older and with the intention of drinking alcohol. I doubt they'll be going in their hoodies and trainers so hardly a casual drink after mooching around Primark. If they just want to feel grown up, why not go to a coffee shop or somewhere and have a mocktail/ smoothie/ coffee/ whatever there?

Your daughters friend probably doesn't want her to go because she's not buying the mocktail bullshit.

Passthecherrycoke · 21/09/2019 18:03

Maybe they’re wealthy? Who knows. I honestly don’t think it’s in the slightest bit strange. You can’t really compare when you were younger. They probably want to get some cool Instagram photos

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